Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 114 Part 1.djvu/262

 114 STAT. 226 PUBLIC LAW 106-186—APR. 25, 2000 Public Law 106-186 106th Congress Joint Resolution Apr. 25, 2000 Expressing the sense of Congress that the President of the United States shovdd [S.J. Res. 43] encourage free and fair elections and respect for democracy in Peru. Whereas presidential and congressional elections are scheduled to occur in Peru on April 9, 2000; Whereas independent election monitors, including the Organization of American States, the National Democratic Institute, and the Carter Center, have expressed grave doubts about the fairness of the electoral process due to the Peruvian Government's control of key official electoral agencies, systematic restrictions on freedom of the press, manipulation of the judicial processes to stifle independent reporting on radio, television, and newspaper outlets, and harassment and intimidation of opposition politicians, which have greatly limited the ability of opposing candidates to campaign freely; and Whereas the absence of free and fair elections in Peru would constitute a major setback for the Peruvian people and for democracy in the hemisphere, could result in instability in Peru, and could jeopardize United States antinarcotics objectives in Peru and the region: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled. That it is the sense of Congress that the President of the United States should promptly convey to the President of Peru that if the April 9, 2000, elections are not deemed by the international community to have been free and fair, the United States will review and modify as appropriate its political, economic, and military relations with Peru, and will work with other democracies in this hemisphere and elsewhere toward a restoration of democracy in Peru. Approved April 25, 2000. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S.J. Res. 43: CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 146 (2000): Apr. 7, considered and passed Senate. Apr. 11, considered and passed House. WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 36 (2000): Apr. 25, Presidential statement.

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